Hofstra’s yearly trip to Ridley for Nick Colleluori Classic is ‘pinnacle’ of its Fall season

Each year, the trip in early October to Ridley High in Folsom, PA is a special one for the Hofstra men’s lacrosse team.

For the Pride, the Nick Colleluori Classic has more meaning than just getting started in their Fall Ball season – it’s a chance to connect with the legacy of a fallen teammate.

“I guess there is a new special meaning every year,” said Hofstra coach Seth Tierney, whose squad is one of seven teams that will compete in Division I day today at the 7th NCC at Ridley. “Every year it’s about of teaching these guys what it’s about and why someone gets to wear No. 27.

“I want to make sure they understand there is a greater reason for playing in this than lacrosse. Fall lacrosse is important but the Nick Colleluori Classic has been the pinnacle of our fall season without question.”

Hofstra will face Binghamton at 2:30 p.m. and Villanova at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The two-day event kicks off Saturday with Division I scrimmages, and wraps up on Sunday with Division II and III scrimmages. In addition to Hofstra, the Division I line-up includes Binghamton, Lafayette, Monmouth, Saint Joseph’s, VMI and Villanova. Each team will play two games.

Selected games will be streamed live with commentary, compliments of Access Lacrosse (AccessLacrosse.com).

The 2013-14 Hofstra roster includes 25 returnees and six starters from their 2013 team. Tierney will be interested in seeing how his returnees and 18 talented newcomers perform in game situations against Binghamton and Villanova. But the main focus is on the HEADstrong Foundation and remembering Nick Colleluori, who fought Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma so bravelye before passing seven years ago as a Hofstra student-athlete.

“I don’t say a word on the bus,” said Tierney. “I put on film of scenes with interviews of when Nick was going through treatments. This will be the first real sighting of Nick for like 17-plus of the guys.

“A couple of the new guys are from from Philly and those guys understand what it’s about. I put on a film of how Nick passed away and the bus was silent.

“Also, we switch off by either going to the cemetery to put a yellow rose at his gravesite or we go to Nick House. This year we are going to Nick’s House. We’re pretty lucky; we get a tour and it’s a special part of our program.”

The Nicholas Colleluori Classic has quickly become a fall tradition in the sport of lacrosse. The NCC is dedicated to remembering the life and legacy of former Hofstra lacrosse player and HEADstrong founder Nicholas “HEAD” Colleluori while promoting the importance of community, brotherhood and sportsmanship within the game. This milestone event has helped the HEADstrong Foundation strengthen its commitment to improving the quality of life for those affected by cancer.

Tierney recently announced that senior midfielder Anthony Zappone (Ballston Lake, NY) has been named this year’s Nick Colleluori Award winner and will wear Nick’s number (27) during the 2014 season. It is considered one of the highest team honors for a Pride player.

Nicholas Colleluori, who was a three-sport athlete and graduated from Ridley High School in June 2004, joined the Hofstra Pride Lacrosse team the next fall. With hard work and determination, Nick earned a role on the Hofstra team the spring of his freshman year. Nick was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in September, which started a courageous 14-month battle with cancer. Nick lost his battle to cancer on November 28th, 2006.

During his illness, Nick not only battled cancer physically, but also mentally. Nick reached out to others with the same illness and counseled them to have the same positive outlook that Nick always possessed. It was Nick’s hope and dream in his waning days and weeks to begin the HEADstrong Foundation, to help those who have been diagnosed with blood cancers, as well as put an end to this horrible disease.

In just six years, the Nick Colleluori Lacrosse Classic has raised more than $1,100,000 for blood cancer research and family assistance, as the HEADstrong Foundation continues its mission to eliminate blood cancers.

To drive home the HEADstrong mission, and to allow each participating team to experience the importance of their hard work, each squad will be assigned a HEADstrong honorary captain, someone currently dealing with blood cancer. The honorary captains will be part of the team for the day, and will serve to inspire them, with their relentless courage. Teams will wear Laces for Lymphoma™ to show their support for the cause. Additionally, each team will be engaged in service, selling awareness t-shirts on their campuses to help contribute to the fundraising total.

Admission can be purchased at the ticket booths. All proceeds will support the HEADstrong Foundation™.
Children Under 5 – Free
Children Under 12 – $5.00
Adult One Day Pass – $10.00

The games can be viewed on www.livestream.com/accesslacrosse or on a mobile device by downloading the livestream app and searching the “Access Lacrosse” channel. All games will be archived on the Access Lacrosse Site – www.accesslacrosse.com

Earlier this week, Hofstra had its scheduled October 11 scrimmage against the touring team from Keio University from Tokyo, Japan cancelled when Keio scrapped its eight-day tour to the United States. Due to heavy thunderstorms and typhoons that hit Japan in September, two of Keio’s league games were postponed. The contests were subsequently rescheduled during the planned trip causing the cancellation of the tour.